Silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive of improved strength



United States Patent 3,528,940 SILICONE PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE 0F IMPROVED STRENGTH Frank J. Modic, Scotia, N.Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York No Drawing. Filed Dec. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 601,878 Int. Cl. C08g 47/04, 47/06; C08k 1/08 US. Cl. 260-37 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives of improved strength.

Silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives are well known in the art and are shown, for example, in Pats. 2,736,721, Dexter; 2,814,601, Currie et al.; and 2,857,356, Goodwin, Jr. These silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives are unique in the adhesive art in that they combine a very high degree of tackiness with thermal stability so that these adhesives retain their adhesive characteristics over broad temperature ranges. While these adhesives have the desirable properties listed above, they are not as strong as needed for many applications. For example, in the heatsealing of polyethylene bags, the heat-sealing can sometimes be effected by the use of heated polytetrafiuoroethylene strips which are used to compress the bags. Heat is applied to these polytetrafluoroethylene strips from a metal heating element and these polytetrafluoroethylene strips are affixed to the metal heating element by an adhesive. Since these strips wear out, a simple method is needed for replacing them. With conventional pressuresensitive adhesive compositions of the prior art, it is found that the strength of the adhesive is insufficient to form a sufiiciently strong attachment between the polytetrafluoroethylene strip and the metal heating element so that the strip tends to fall oil of the heating element before it has worn out. For this application and for many other applications, it would be desirable to have a stronger silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive which retained the high degree of tack and thermal stability of prior art pressure-sensitive adhesives and which, in addition, produced a stronger adhesive material.

The present invention is based on my discovery of a composition which does provide increased pressure-sensitive adhesive materials which retain the advantageous properties of prior art materials.

The compositions of the present invention comprise the siloxane product of intercondensation at a temperature of from about 80 C. to 150 C. of a mixture of ingredients comprising, by weight, (1) 100 parts of a silanol chain stopped polydiorganosiloxane gum having a viscosity of at least about 10,000,000 centistokes at 25 C., (2) from 15 to 200 parts of a benzene-soluble resinous copolymer of R SiO units and SiO units in the ratio of from 0.5 to 1.0 R SiO units per Si0 unit, and (3) from 2 to parts of a finely divided silica having a surface area in excess of about 100 square meters per gram.

The fact that the presence of the 2 to 10 parts by weight of the finely divided silica in applicants composition would provide the improved strength in the pressure-sensitive adhesive is completely unexpected and unpredictable, since the use of from 2 to 10 parts of such finely divided silicas in admixture with 100 parts of a conventional poly- 3,528,940 Patented Sept. 15, 1970 "ice diorganosiloxane gum does not lead to improved shear strength in the cured product of such mixture. Likewise, the substitution in applicants compositions of other types of finely divided materials, such as finely divided alumina, finely divided titanium dioxide, finely divided asbestos, finely divided zinc oxide, finely divided calcium carbonate, finely divided diatomaceous earth, or even finely divided quartz does not result in any improvement in the strength of applicants pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions, even though such materials do lead to an improvement in the strength of organopolysiloxane elastomers when incorporated therein in appropriate amounts.

The finely divided silicas employed in the practice of the present invention are well known in the art and comprise synthetic materials prepared by burning various compounds containing silicon and chlorine, such as silicon tetrachloride or trichlorosilane, products prepared by various precipitation processes, and products prepared by various aerosol processes. These types of silicas are known, respectively, as fume silica, precipitated silica, and silica aerogel. The significant characteristic of these materials is that each of these types of silica has a very high surface area which is in the range of from about 150 to 400 square meters per gram or even higher. In some cases, the surface area can be as low as square meters per gram. These silicas are characterized, in the present invention, by their ability to increase the strength of the pressure-sensitive adhesives which are prepared from applicants compositions.

The linear silanol chain-stopped polydiorganosiloxane gum having a viscosity in excess of 10,000,000 centistokes when measured at 25 C. is well known in the art and generally comprises a polydimethylsiloxane but can also comprise other types of siloxane units and, in many applications, a desirable copolymer is one which contains up to 20 mole percent diphenylsiloxane units, methylphenylsiloxane units, methylvinylsiloxane units, phenylvinylsiloxane units, or the like, with the remaining siloxane units being dimethylsiloxane units. In general, these linear silanol chain-stopped polydiorganosiloxanes have the formula:

HO dio H where n is a whole number sufficiently great to provide a silanol chain-stopped polysiloxane having a viscosity of at least 10,000,000 centistokes at 25 C. and is generally of the order of at least 4,000 and R is a monovalent hydrocarbon radical. Illustrative of the monovalent hydrocarbon radicals represented by R are alkyl radicals, e.g., methyl, ethyl, butyl, octyl, octadecyl, etc. radicals; aryl radicals, e.g., phenyl, naphthyl, tolyl, xylyl, etc. radicals; aralkyl radicals, e.g., benzyl, phenylethyl, etc. radicals; alkenyl radicals, e.g., vinyl, allyl, etc. radicals; and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radicals, e.g., cyclohexyl, cyclohepytl, cyclo hexenyl, etc. radicals. Included within the scope of these monovalent hydrocarbon radicals are also radicals containing various substituents which are inert under the conditions of the reaction. These radicals include, for example, halogenated hydrocarbon radicals, such as chloromethyl, chlorophenyl, dibromophenyl, trifiuoromethylethyl, etc. radicals, as well as radicals containing other inert substitutents, such as beta-chloroethyl, gamma-cyanopropyl, p-cyanophenyl, p-nitrophenyl, etc. radicals.

While the polydiorganosiloxane gum having silanol chain terminals has been described as having a viscosity of at least 10,000,000 centistokes at 25 C., in some cases the viscosity is much higher, such as on the order of 100,- 000,000 centistokes or more. These materials are known in the art and are characterized by solubility in hydrocarbon solvents, such as benzene and toluene and toluene.

from about 0.1 to 3.0 percent by weight, based on the silicone content of the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, with the preferred range being from about 1 to 2 percent benzoyl peroxide. The benzoyl peroxide is mixed into the 40 to 75 percent solids solution of the pressure-sensitive adhesive, the solution is then coated on the desired surface, and the surface is heated at a temperature of from about 125 to 175 C. to evaporate the solvent and to cure the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition to the state Where it exhibits tack and maximum internal strength.

The strength of pressure-sensitive adhesives f the present invention and of certain prior art materials were evaluated by a test referred to as a drop shear test. In the drop shear test, a strip of aluminum foil /2" by 12" was coated with a sufficient amount of the catalyzed pressure-sensitive adhesive composition under evaluation to provide 0.05 gram of cured pressure-sensitive adhesive composition per square inch of the aluminum foil. The two strips which were coated were then air dried for 10 minutes on a flat surface and then heat cured for 5 minutes in a 175 C. oven to produce the cured pressure-sensitive adhesive. All but the end /2" of both strips were backed with polytetrafluoroethylene tape for strengthening, the two /2" by /2 exposed ends were brought into contact with each other, and rolled together with a pound roller. The backed sections of each tape were formed into a loop, one loop was used to maintain one of the aluminum strips in a fixed position, and a 3,000 gram weight was hung on the other loop. The time for the two strips to come apart under the drop shear weight was a measure of the strength of the composition.

The adhesion of the pressure-sensitive adhesive was determined in a similar manner except that a 1" by 12" strip of aluminum foil was employed and the adhesion of the pressure-sensitive adhesive to stainless steel was determined by conventional means, and measured in ounces per square inch.

The following examples are illustrative of the practice of my invention and are not intended for purposes of limitation. All parts are by weight.

In Examples 1 through 11, which follow, a number of pressure-sensitive adhesive formulations were prepared and evaluated in the drop shear test and in the adhesion test described earlier. General information concerning each of these pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions and the test results are summarized in Table I. Some of the pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions were within the scope of the present invention and some were outside. In particular, Example 1 through Example 7 illustrate pressure-sensitive adhesive formulations within the scope of the present invention, while Examples 8 through 11 illus trate pressure-sensitive adhesives outside of the scope of the present invention by virtue of the use of a silicone gum having a viscosity below the 10 10 centistoke viscosity minimum of the present invention, by virtue of the use of a silicone gum which is not silanol chain-stopped, or by virtue of having no silica. Some of the formulations of Examples 1 through 11 were prepared from the masterbatch technique described earlier, and some were not.

In all of Examples 1 through 11, the composition included components derived from a resinous copolymer of trimethylsiloxane units and Si0 units. The resinous copolymer was a 60% by weight solids solution in xylene and contained 0.5 trimethylsiloxane units per Si0 unit. In each example, the composition contained 200 parts of this resinous copolymer which, at 60% solids, was suflicient to provide 120 parts of copolymer solids.

The pressure-sensitive adhesives of the present invention comprise an intercondensation product of the resinous copolymer of trimethylsiloxane units and Si0 units and a polydiorganosiloxane gum. In addition, the composition contains the finely divided silica. In all of Examples 1 through 11, the sum of the amount of polydiorganosiloxane gum and the silica was equal to the amount of resinous copolymer solids. In particular, in each of Examples 1 through 11, the amount of polydiorganosiloxane gum and silica employed totaled parts.

In Examples 1 through 6, 8, and 9, a masterbatch technique was employed using a masterbatch containing from about 14 to 18% by weight silica in a polydiorgano siloxane gum. The masterbatch was mixed with a silicafree polydiorganosiloxane gum, with the proportions of the masterbatch and the proportions of the silica-free gum being adjusted so as to provide a total of 120 parts gum plus silica containing the desired amount of finely divided silica. The silica in each masterbatch was a finely divided fumed silica having a surface area of about 250 square meters per gram. The polydiorganosiloxane gum in the masterbatch had a viscosity in the range of from about 10 1O to 20 10 censtistokes at 25 C.

In the examples, three different masterbatches were employed. Masterbatch A consisted of 18.2% by Weight of the finely divided silica and 81.8% by weight of a polydiorganosiloxane gum consisting of 94.5 mole percent dimethylsiloxane units, 5.3 mole percent diphenylsiloxane units, and 0.2 mole percent methylvinylsiloxane units. Masterbatch B consisted of 16.8 weight percent of the finely divided silica and 83.2 weight percent of a polydiorganosiloxane gum consisting of 99.8 mole percent dimethylsiloxane units and 0.2 mole percent methylvinylsiloxane units. Masterbatch C consisted of 14.8 weight percent of the finely divided silica and 85.2 weight percent of a polydiorganosiloxane gum which consisted of 99.8 mole percent dimethylsiloxane units and 0.2 mole percent methylvinylsiloxane units. In Example 7, no masterbatch was employed, and the finely divided silica was milled into the silanol polydiorganosiloxane at the level described in Table I.

In each case in which the masterbatch technique was employed (Examples 1 through 6, 8 and 9), the 200 parts of the xylene solution of the resinous copolymer of trimethylsiloxane units and SiO units, 312 parts of xylene, the masterbatch, and the silica-free polydiorganosiloxane gum were mixed together and dissolved to the extent possible. All of the components of the reaction mixture, except the finely divided silica, Went into solution. The mixture was then refluxed for two hours and stripped of xylene to 60% by weight solids. In Examples 7, 10, and 11, where no masterbatch was employed, 200 parts of the 60% solids solution of the resinous copolymer of trimethylsiloxane units and SiO units were mixed with 120 parts of the polydiorganosiloxane gum (and filler in Example 7), 312 parts of xylene, and any finely divided silica present. The reaction mixture was again refluxed for two hours, and again stripped to 60% by weight solids.

Several diiferent polydiorganosiloxanes are represented in the various examples. In Examples 1 through 6 and 10, the polydiorganosiloxane was a polydimethylsiloxane gum having a viscosity of about 12 10 centistokes at 25 C. In Example 7, the polydimethylsiloxane gum was a coploymer of 94.7 mole percent dimethylsiloxane units and 5.3 mole percent diphenylsiloxane units and had a viscosity of about 20 10 centistokes at 25 C. In Example 8, the polydiorganosiloxane was a silanol chain-stopped polydimethylsiloxane, but had a viscosity of about 1X10 centistokes at 25 C., which is below the 10 10 centistoke minimum of the present invention. In Example 9, the polydiorganosiloxane had a viscosity of 20 10 centistokes, which is in the correct range, but instead of being silanol chain-stopped was trimethylsiloxy chainstopped. In Example 11, the polydiorganosiloxane was a copolymer of 99.8 mole percent dimethylsiloxane units and 0.2 mole percent methylvinylsiloxane units and had a viscosity of 25 10 centistokes at 25 C.

As described above, each of the pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions was a 60% solids solution in xylene. In each of the examples, the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition solution was catalyzed with benzoyl peroxide. One or more of four standard benzoyl peroxide levels were employed. These levels were 0.21%, 0.42%, 0.84%, and 1.67% by weight, based on the total silicone solids in the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition. Following the techniques described earlier, the catalyzed pressuresensitive adhesive composition was applied to aluminum a pressure-sensitive adhesive employing 0.42% benzoyl peroxide based on silicone solids. This resulted in a drop shear test value in excess of 10 hours and adhesion test results of about 60 ounces per square inch.

strips and, by heating the strips at 175 C., the xylene EXAMPLE 13 was evaporated and the pressui'ersensitive adhesive com- In this example, two Compositions were prepared hi h positions were cured to the pressure-sensitive adhesive were identical to the Composition f Example 7, except a Each of the so'h'eated aluminum Strips evahl' that a filler other than one of the finely divided silicas ated in the drop shear test and in the adhesion test. was employed, In particular, 43 parts of a finely ground II). Table I, follows, is listed an identification Of quartz ilica having a urface area between 1 and Which masterhatch Was used in each p together square meters per gram Was milled into 1000 parts of with an indication of the total amount of finely divided the previously used l l chain stepped pelydimethyp Silica P 100 Parts Polydiorgahosiloxahe gum in the siloxane having a viscosity of about 12 10 centistokes pressure-sensitive adhesive composition. In Table I it will 15 t 25 C A i t was f r ed f 1243 parts f thi be seen that ither mast l t mastefhatch of mixture, 200 parts of the 60% solids solution of the mastefhatch C Was P Y Of that 110 mastefhatch a trimethylsiloxane-SiO resin of earlier examples, 310 parts p y Likewise, it Will be Seen m Ta I hat th of xylene, and after the gums were dissolved in solvent, most common silica level varied from about 2 parts to the material was cooked for 2 hours and evaluated as in 10 parts per 100 parts of polydiorganosiloxane gum. In previous examples employing 0.84 percent benzoyl per- Examples 10 and 11, no silica was present. In Table I oxide as the catalyst. While the adhesion of this composithe results of the drop shear test are listed in the hours tion was satisfactory, the composition survived less than required for the bond to break with each of the catalyst one hour in the drop shear test, indicating poor internal levels indicated. Likewise, the results of the adhesion tests strength. When the same procedure was repeated exin ounces per square inch is listed for each of the catalyst cept that finely divided alumina was employed, similarly levels evaluated. poor results were obtained.

TABLE I Parts silica.0 Drop shear test (hours) Adhesion test (ounces per square inch) Example Masterpar s gll in 0.21% 0.42% 0.34% 1.67% 0.21% 0.42% 0.34% 1.679% No. batch in PSA Cat. Cat. Cat. Cat. Cat. Oat. Oat. Cat.

3. s 1. s 21 16 27 52 49 4s 42 10. 0 0. 2 6 16 26 55 52 52 3.8 1.8 14 65 59 3. s 0.08 0. 7 2 5 6s 64 5s 53 3. s 0. 00s 0. O6 0. 2 2 75 68 60 54 None 0. 1 0. 1 0. 2 2. 4 54 53 46 43 None 0.1 0. 5 49 As is seen from the above table, the compositions of While the compositions of this invention have been de- Examples 1 through 7 within the scope of the present scribed as containing the essential ingredients listed above, invention all exhibit satisfactory results in both the drop it should be noted that these compositions can also conh ar te t and th adhesion test, I Example 8, which i tain minor amounts of other materials which can serve out id of the scope of th present in entio by vi tue 45 other functions. For example, where the compositions of the use of a silanol chain-stopped polydimethylsiloxane ar to be used entirely at extremely elevated temperahaving a viscosity less than 10 1() centistokes, very tures, it is sometimes desirable to incorporate a convenpoor results are obtained in the drop shear test, For E)(- tional heat-aging additive therein. These materials are ample 9, in which the polydiorganosiloxane is trimethylknown in the art and gehefally consist of Organic silyl chain-stopped, the results in the drop shear test are 50 boxylic acid salts of metals, such as iron, cobalt, even worse. For Examples 10 and 11, in which no finely gahese, cerium, and other rare earth meta1$- A P divided silica is present, the results in the drop shear test lally useful group of rare earth additives are iron OClZOate are again pooh h compositions f Examples 3 through and mixed rare earth octoates. In addition to these ther- 11 are ti f t for applications where a highmal stabilizer additives, it is possible that the compositions strength pressure-sensitive adhesive is required, also contain other additives which have been present in starting materials. For example, sometimes it is desirable EXAMPLE 12 to include a plasticizer in the masterbatches from which the compositions of the present invention are employed.

Following the procedure of earlier examples, a mixture These plasticizers are well known in the art and are reprewas prepared of (l) 200 parts of a solids solution 60 sented by diphenylsilanediol as a very common plasticizin xylene of a resinous copolymer of trimethylsiloxane ihg materialunits and SiO units containing 0.8 trimethylsiloxane units While the foregoing examples have illustrated many of per SiO unit, (2) 96 parts of a silanol chain-stopped cothe embodiments of my invention, it should be underpolymer of diphenylsiloxane units and dimethylsiloxane stood that my invention relates broadly to the class of units having a viscosity of about 25 x10 centistokes at pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions previously de- 25 C., (3) 24 parts of a masterbatch of a methylphenylscribed in which the key components are (1) the high vinylpolysiloxane gum containing 18.2 percent by weight viscosity, silanol chain-stopped polydiorganosiloxane havof a finely divided fumed silica having a surface area of ing a viscosity in excess of about 10x10 centistokes at about 250 square meters per gram, and in which the gum 25 C., 2) the resinous copolymer of triorganosiloxane had a viscosity in excess of 15 l0 centistokes at 25 C., 70 units and SiO units, and (3) the 2 to 10 percent by and consisted of 94.5 mole percent dimethylsiloxane units, weight finely divided silica filler based on the Weight of 5.3 mole percent diphenylsiloxane units, and 0.2 mole the polydiorganosiloxane. As shown by the examples, the percent methylvinylsiloxane units, and parts xylene. silica filler must have a surface area of at least about Following the cooking, stripping and catalyzing procesquare meters per gram, to provide the necessary strength dure described earlier. this composition was converted to 75 in the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A pressure-sensitive adhesive composition of improved strength comprising the siloxane product of intercondensation at a temperature of from about 80 to 150 C. of a mixture of ingredients comprising, by weight, (1) 100 parts of a silanol chain-stopped polydiorganosiloxane gum having a viscosity of at least about 10,000,000 centistokes at 25 C., (2) from about 15 to 200 parts of a benzene-soluble resinous copolymer of R SiO units and SiO units in the molar ratio of from about 0.5 to 1.0 R SiO unit per Si0 unit, and (3) from about 2 to parts of a finely divided silica having a surface area in excess of about 100 square meters per gram, where R is a monovalent hydrocarbon radical and the organo groups of said organopolysiloxane are monovalent hydrocarbon radicals.

2. The composition of claim 1 in which said polydiorganosiloxane gum is a polydimethylsiloxane gum.

3. The composition of claim 1 in which R is methyl.

4. The composition of claim 1 in which the polydiorganopolysiloxane gum is a polydimethylsiloxane gum and in which R is methyl.

5. The composition of claim 1 in which the organo References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,736,721 2/1956 Dexter 260825 3,027,344 3/1962 Zbigiew 260-37 3,031,366 3/1962 Bueche et a1. 260-37 3,155,633 11/1964 Polmanteer 26037 OTHER REFERENCES Skeist, Handbook of Adhesives, TP 968 55, 1962, pages 223, 273 and 329 relied on.

MORRIS LIEBMAN, Primary Examiner S. L. FOX, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 260825 

